We took a look back 100 years to see what kinds of things were happening in the 1920s. We found out some pretty interesting things like women getting the right to vote, Charles Lindbergh flying solo across the Atlantic ocean, and the invention of sliced bread and bubblegum. We have one of our students on the front as a flapper and one on the back as a child of the 1920s. Take a look and see how much the times have changed!
Here is a link to the book: What Happened In The 1920s?
We took a look back at the different groups that we had this year and chose some of the sensory boxes that we thought our students enjoyed the most, like kinetic sand, beans, and slime. Our book has lots of different pictures of our students engaging with these boxes throughout the year. The front of the book features 2 of our students celebrating the end of 2019 while the 2 students on the back are celebrating the new year, 2020!
Here is a link to the book: Oh What Fun We Had This Year!
Last week we talked about the different gift-bringers around the world and THIS week we’re talking about the different winter holidays around the world. There are so many holidays that people celebrate in different ways. We talked about Bodhi Day, Las Posadas, and Dongzhi just to name a few. We have one of our students dressed as a winter princess on the front and another student as a star on the back. Super cute 🙂
Here is a link to the book: Look At All The Winter Holidays
We learned lots of neat facts about Utah this week in honor of Take A Hike Day which was November 17. We found out that every county contains at least a part of a national forest, why it is called the Beehive state, and what their official state food is. The book also contains some pictures that a retired staff member, Jeannie, graciously let us use from her trips to Utah. Take a look and learn about this amazing state!
Here is a link to the book: Let’s Learn About Utah
National Sesame Street day is on November 10 and this year is also their 50th anniversary! We had so much fun celebrating this incredible television show. Our book features students on each page. They like to do some of the things that the Sesame Street characters like to do, like eat cookies, wear a tiara and wings, and be friends. Take a look at this super cute book!
Here is a link to the book: LET’S CELEBRATE SESAME STREET DAY
Since National Author’s Day is November 1, we decided to have our theme be based around one particular author, J.K. Rowling. We found out some neat facts about her that have to do with her Harry Potter series of books. Read the book to find out some facts about when she came up with Harry Potter, how she came up with the word “quidditch”, and why King’s Cross train station is so important to her. We also have a few off our students as Harry Potter and one as Hedwig! Check them out!
Here is a link to the book: Let’s Learn About JK Rowling
November 1 is International Author’s Day so we decided to learn about one of the most popular authors on the planet! Our sensory groups explored boxes related to JK Rowling and her books. The fine motor groups made simple but magical art projects and the language group made a yummy magical treat!
SENSORY GROUP
There were lots of things to discover in this box. We started with a base of shredded paper—-JK Rowling wrote BOOKS after all 🙂 There were some plush and laminated characters from her books as well.
Of course, the wizard hat, Harry Potter glasses, and “magic” wands were especially popular. We also included items such as pink beads (her favorite color), a British flag, and some play food sushi (her favorite food).
Science access point: recognize a model of a real object.
In blue and white rice were letters J and K as well as a picture of the Scottish flag at the bottom of the box.
We picked the rice colors to match the colors of the Scottish flag. JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter books in Edinburg Scotland.
Science access point: match objects with similar observable properties, such as shape.
JK Rowling came up with the idea for the Harry Potter series while on a train. We put a wooden train engine (actually a chunky puzzle piece) in some tea leaves—-we figured since JK Rowling is British she MUST drink tea 🙂
There were a couple of train pictures to find at the bottom of the box.
Science access point: recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move.
The students sorted pompoms in the colors of the different Hogwarts houses.
Red for Gryffindor, blue for Ravenclaw, yellow for Hufflepuff, and green for Slytherin.
Science access point: identify objects by one observable property, such as color.
Since our school mascot is the owl, we HAD to dedicate a box the Harry Potter’s owl Hedwig!
Two owls—-1 big and 1 small as well as a fluffy feather boa made this a very touchable box!
Math access point: recognize differences in size of objects.
Oobleck in JK Rowling’s favorite color became a little more magical with the addition of some shiny confetti.
The confetti was fun to watch as it swirled around or dripped down the oobleck.
Science access point: track objects in motion.
Mermaids and sea serpents are some of the magical creatures found in JK Rowling’s books.
Two different sized measuring cups and a funnel added to the fun in our water play this week.
Math access point: recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids.
Bath and Body Works vanilla sugar was as close we could get to Butterbeer, but we think it totally worked.
The sweet scent left our students with yummy memories of all the fun we had!
Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday we made some wizard hats!
First, the students identified the color BLACK and a TRIANGLE.
Science access point: identify objects by one observable property, such as color.
Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes.
Then, the students used paper cutters or switch operated scissors to cut a triangle out of black paper.
Science access point: recognize a change in the appearance of an object.
Next, they stamped golden swirls on to their hats.
Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down.
TA DA!!!
What cute little wizards!!!!!
On Wednesday, we made magic wands out of sticks.
First, the students chose a wand and identified the color of their chenille stem.
Science access point: identify objects by one observable property, such as color.
Then, they wrapped the chenille stem around the stick.
Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship.
The tip of the wand was dipped into glue and then some gold glitter.
Science access point: recognize a change in the appearance of an object.
TA DA!!!
Time for a little magic…..
……our wizards are ready for work 🙂
LANGUAGE GROUP
We had lots of fun making cute little edible owls this week! Here’s the recipe we used: Let’s Make An Edible Owl
The students first had to indicate that they WANTED a rice cake. Then they had to locate PEANUT BUTTER to request it.
Students were given the small container of peanut butter. If they were unable to open it, they had to request HELP.
Students then had to SPREAD the peanut butter on the rice cake. Again, if this task was challenging, they had to request HELP.
Next, each student got 2 slices of banana and 2 blueberries to serve as the eyes. They counted out each fruit as they received them. They had to PUT the bananas and blueberries at the TOP of the rice cake.
Then, they had to request 2 apple slices and PUT them on the SIDES of the rice cake. We compared these “wings” to our arms.
Students got to PUT 1 dried cranberry beak on their owl, making sure to put it UNDER the eyes.
Finally, they added some Cheerios as feathers. Each student was given only 1 or 2 Cheerios at first and had to request MORE.
These turned out so cute…..
…….and yummy!
Join us again next time for more fun and learning—–Group by Group!
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We have had so much fun with the theme for this week! We’ve been watching out for monsters that come out around this time of year. Our theme centered around monsters that you might see if you watch Scooby Doo. The front of the book has the Scooby Doo clan ready to set out and find monsters. In the book you’ll see all the monsters they found! (They’re all really cute monsters if we say so ourselves 🙂 )
We also have a really awesome background that was made by our art teacher, Mrs. Judy, and her students! Make sure to see which monsters we found!
Here is a link to the book: Watch Out For Monsters!
To celebrate National Art Day (10/25), we are learning all about Claude Monet. We found out some really interesting facts about Monet. We found out that his father wanted him to follow his footsteps in the family business, that he was French, and that he was interested in painting scenes with different light. Read the book and find out some other cool facts about Monet! You will also have to see the cover, which features one of our students as a piece of Monet’s art, and the back of the book which features a different student in an art gallery.
Here is a link to the book: Let’s Learn About Monet
Around this time of year, we start to see lots of things that are orange and black. Our book features some of our students with different things that are orange and black. Check it out to see all of the things we found!
Here is a link to the book: I Can Look For Orange And Black